Guide means for masons



April 16, 1957 J. w. MILLS 3 GUIDE MEANS FOR MASONS Filed Feb. 24, 1956 GUIDE MEANS FOR MASONS John W. Mills, Decatur, Ga. Application February 24, 1956, Serial No. 567,633

' 15 Claims. (Cl. 33-35 This invention relates to guide means for masons and more particularly to a method and apparatus for holding a' guide line at easily determined levels so that the mortar thickness between adjacent courses of brick may be controlled as desired and for adjusting the position Of the guide line in a lateral direction relative to a wall tobe constructed.

In the construction of brick buildings it is customary to begin the laying of brick at so-cailed lead corners and thereafter to construct the wall portions intermediat these lead corners. Under present practice, the services of a highly skilled mason are ordinarily required to construct the corners so that subsequent courses of brick laid between thecorners will be at the right level to.accommodate such building elements as window sills, for example, and so that corresponding courses in all corners 'will be at the same elevation. Such practice not only requires the services of a highly skilled mason, it is also time-consuming and therefore expensive.

A principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for use in the construction of buildings, the Walls of which are built at least in part of brick or similar material and by which the necessity for building lead corners is eliminated. Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus whereby a complete brick or similar building maybe constructed by apprentice masons completely unassisted by skilled masons.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple. and efiicient apparatus for use in facilitating the construction of buildings whose exterior surface is constructed at least in part of brick or similar material. The invention in one form comprises a vertically slotted upright angle adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to. be constructed, a Y-shaped bracket having the base thereof slidably disposed in the slot in the upright angle and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with a guide line, the force applied to the bracket by the guide line being effective to hold the bracket at a desired level, and adjustablemeans in threaded engagementwith the base of the bracket for determining the lateral disposition of vthe bracket in conjunction with the force applied thereto by the guide line.

"For a better understanding of the invention reference maybe had to the following detailed description taken intconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is. a perspective view of a portion of a building showing one corner and fragments of the walls which' define that corner, the roof portion being removed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an upright ele- 'ment and associated bracket as viewed from the inside surface thereof and with an adjustable scale removed; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3'-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bracket forming. an essential element of the invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a holding element .usedto support one end .of the guide line, the other end being supported by the upright element and its associated bracket. 2

The portion of a building as depicted in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of blocks 1 which could be of the ordinary cement or cinder type laid end to end in courses to define the base portion of the wall of a building. Mounted on and supported by the blocks 1 is a plurality of vertically disposed wooden studs which are not shown in the drawing but which are disposed inside the insulating material designated by the numeral 2. The above referred to studs support the horizontal members 3 which in turn support the roof rafters and associated elements not shown in the drawing.

It will be understood from the description thus far that the structure described is of the ordinary brick veneer type and that brick are to. be laid along the upper surface of the blocks 1 and closely adjacent to the insulating material 2. Such brick 4' are laid by means of a guide line 4 the left-hand end of which is fitted in a slot 5 formed in L-shaped holding element 6 which partially envelops a suitable vertically disposed wooden element 7 fastened by nails 8 to blocks 1 and fastened by nails to one element 3. A scale 7' is mounted on the side of element 7 adjacent insulation 2 and is adjustable vertically. The right-hand end of the guide line 4 is supported at the corner by means of bracket 9 which constitutes an essential element of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1-4 the bracket: 9 is provided with a pair of prongs 10 and 11 and a base portion 12 of square cross section and which as shown in Figure 4 is provided with screw threads at the corners thereof. An aperture 13 is provided near the extremity of the prong 1d and a similar opening 14 is provided near the extremity of the prong 11. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 the bracket 9 is slidably mounted in a slot 15 formed at the apex of upright angle element 16 which preferably is formed of aluminum. A nut 17 is in threaded engagement with the base 12 of the bracket 9 and together with the tension of guide line 4 determines the lateral disposition of the bracket 9 relative to the walls to be constructed. The upright angle 16 is supported at the upper end thereof by suitable means such as a pair of small nails 18 which are inserted through suitable holes provided in the top end of the angle. The nails 18 are driven into the horizontal elements 3. The tension of line 4 serves to hold the upright element 16 snugly against the blocks 1 at the lower end thereof, the spacer 19 serving to space the angle from the blocks 1 by an amount approximately equal to the overhang of horizontal elements 3 relative to the finished brick wall. If desired, suitable openings 20 may be formed at the lower end of the vertical upright element 16 and in the spacer 19 through which nails or other suitable holding means may be driven into the cement blocks 1. Disposed directly above the slot 15 is a similar slot 21, the slots 15 and 21 being separated by a solid portion 22 to strengthen angle 16.

From Figure 3 it is apparent that guide line 4 enters the openings 13 and 14 from the inside of the bracket, passes through the openings 13 and 14 and proceeds along the outside edges of the prongs of the bracket and over the base portion 12 thereof.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 3 a suitable scale 23 is provided with elongated slots 24 and 25 through which bolts 26 and 27 extend. Bolts 26 and 27 are threadedly mounted in the openings 28 and 29 formed along one flange of the upright element 16 and thus constitute means for holding the scale 23 along an inner surface of one of the flanges of the vertical upright element 16. The indicia of scale 23 corresponds to the indicia 23a of the scale 7' which is mounted on element 7.

From the description thus farit will be understood that upon completion of a course of brick along the wall between the vertical upright element 16 and the vertical support 7 the holding element 6 is moved upwardly as is the bracket 9 to a position determined by pre-selected indicia on the scale 23 and on the scale 7 mounted on element 7. The tension of line 4 holds the bracket 9 and the holding element 6 at the desired level. Thereafter a course of brick is laid using the guide line 4 as a guide. Of course it will be understood that a similar upright element and its associated bracket could be used at each of two corners of a building and an entire wall constructed therebetween by this means.

According to the invention a predetermined level such as a window sill can be readily accommodated in advance by simply positioning the guide line 4 at the level of the window sill. The guide line is held at the desired level by means of the holding element 6 and the bracket 9. Preferably a level instrument of the bubble type is used to insure that the guide line 4 is level. Thereafter screws 26 and 27 are loosened and the scale 23 adjusted vertically so that a particular indicia such as 23a of the scale 23 coincides with the guide line and a similar adjustment of the scale on element 7 is made. The thickness of a course of brick together with one thickness of mortar between a course and an adjacent course is then determined in terms of the indicia of scale 23 and the scale on element 7. With such information the indicia of scale 23 and of the scale on element 7 are used as points to which the guide line 4 is set for the initial and subsequent courses of brick so that the course immediately below the window sill will build up to just the desired elevation.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention 1 do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Guide means for supporting a masons guide line comprising an upright element adapted for mounting adjacent a wall to be constructed, a guide line bracket adapted to be connected with the guide line and slidable vertically on said upright element, said bracket being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with the force applied thereto by the line.

2. Guide means for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted upright element adapted for mounting adjacent a wall to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being angularly disposed relative to said wall, a guide line bracket adapted to be connected with the guide line and having a part thereof disposed in said slot, said bracket being vertically slidable along said upright element and being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to s id upright in cooperation with the force applied to said bracket by the line, the movement of said bracket being in a direction determined by the angular disposition of the vertical edges of said slot.

3. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising an upright angle element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed with the flanges thereof respectively disposed in substantially parallel overlapping relation to the walls forming the corner, a guide line bracket adapted to be connected with the guide line and slidable vertically on said upright element, said bracket being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to said upright in'c'oope'r'ation'with'thedorceapplied thereto by the line.

4. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted upright angle element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed with the flanges thereof respectively disposed in substantially parallel overlapping relation to the walls forming the corner, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being angularly disposed relative to said wall, a guide line bracket adapted to be connected with the guide line and having a part thereof disposed insaid slot, said bracket being vertically slidable along said upright element and being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with the force applied to said bracket by the line,the movement of said bracket being in a direction determined by the angular disposition of the vertical edges of said slot.

5. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted upright angle element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed with the flanges thereof respectively disposed in substantially parallel overlapping relation tothe walls'forming the corner, the slot in said upright angle element being disposed along the apex thereof and eachve'rtical edge of said slot being disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five de rees to one of said walls, a' guide linebra cket adapted to be connected with the guide line and'having a part thereof disposed in said slot, said bracket' being vertically slidable along said upright element and being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustablemeans interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with the force applied to said'bracket by the line, the movement of said bracket being in-a direction determined by the angular disposition of the vertical edges of said slot. v

6. A corner guide for supporting a masons'guide line comprising a vertically slotted upright angle" element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed with the flanges'thereof respectively disposed in substantially parallel overlapping relation to the walls forming the corner, a Y-shaped guide line bracket having each prong thereof adapted for connection withthe guide line and having the base thereof disposed in said slot, said bracket being vertically slidable along said upright element and being adapted to be held at adesired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral movement to said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with the force applied to said bracket by the line, the movement of said bracket being in a direction determined by the angular disposition of the vertical edges of said slot.

7. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted upright angle element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed with the flanges thereof respectively disposed in substantially parallel overlapping relation to the walls forming the corner, the slot in said upright angle elementbe'ing disposed along'the apex thereof and each vertical edge of said slot being disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to one of said-walls, aY-sha'ped'guide line bracket having each prong thereof adapted for'='connection with the guide line and having the base thereof disposed in said slot, said bracket being vertically-slidable along said upright element and being adapted to be held ata desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, and adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket forimparting lateral movement to-said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with greas /9 the force applied to said bracket by the line, the movement of said bracket being in a direction determined by the angular disposition of the vertical edges of said slot.

8. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation, and a guide line bracket having a portion thereof adapted for connection with the guide line and having a part of substantially rectangular cross section slidably disposed in said slot, said bracket being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, the opposite edges of said part of said bracket being closely adjacent the vertical edges of said slot so that rotation of said bracket about its horizontal axis is prevented.

9. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation, a guide line bracket having a portion thereof adapted for connection with the guide line and having a part of substantially rectangular cross section slidably disposed in said slot, said bracket being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, the opposite edges of said part of said bracket being closely adjacent the vertical edges of said slot so that rotation of said bracket about its horizontal axis is prevented, and an adjustable element in threaded engagement with said part of said bracket, the adjustment of said adjustable element being determinative of the lateral disposition of said bracket.

10. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide for comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation and at an angle to the Walls forming the corner, and a Y-shaped guide line bracket having the base portion thereof slidably disposed in said slot and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with the guide line, said base portion or" said bracket being at least in part of a substantially rectangular crosssection so that rotation of said bracket about a horizontal axis is prevented by the vertical edges of said slot.

11. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation and at an angle to the walls forming the corner, a Y-shaped guide line bracket having the base portion thereof slidably disposed in said slot and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with the guide line, said base portion of said bracket being at least in part of a substantially rectangular cross-section so that rotation of said bracket about a horizontal axis is prevented by the vertical edges of said slot, and an adjustable element in threaded engagement with the base portion of said bracket for imparting controlled lateral movement thereto in cooperation with the force applied thereto by the line.

12. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation at an angle to the walls forming the corner, a Y-shaped guide line bracket having the base portion thereof slidably disposed in said slot and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with the guide line, and an adjustable element in threaded engagement with the base portion of said bracket for imparting controlied lateral movement thereto in cooperation with the force applied thereto by the line.

13. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parallel relation at an angle to the walls forming the corner, and a Y-shaped guide line bracket having the base portion thereof slidably disposed in said slot and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with the guide line, said prongs being disposed with respect to each other at an angle generally corresponding to the angle defined by the Walls forming the corner.

14. A corner guide for supporting a masons guide line comprising a vertically slotted element adapted for mounting adjacent a corner to be constructed, the vertical edges of the slot in said upright element being in substantially parailei relation at an angle to the Walls forming the corner, and a (shaped guide line bracket having the base portion thereof slidably disposed in said slot and having the prongs thereof adapted for connection with the guide line, said prongs being disposed with respect to each other at an angle generally corresponding to the angle defined by the walls forming the corner and said prongs and base being arranged to hold the line at an angle corresponding generally to the angle defined between said prongs.

15. Guide means for supporting a masons guide line comprising an upright element adapted for mounting adjacent a wall to be constructed, a guide line bracket adapted to be connected with the guide line and slidable vertically on said upright element, said bracket being adapted to be held at a desired level by the force applied thereto by the guide line, adjustable means interrelating said upright and said bracket for imparting lateral move ment to said bracket relative to said upright in cooperation with the force applied thereto by the line, and a vertically adjustable scale mounted on said upright element in closely spaced relation to said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,644,456 Winter Oct. 4, 1927 2,140,714 Palmer Dec. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,048,718 France Nov. 7, 1951 

